Apparatus for folding and sealing filled packaging hose or the like



Aug. 24, 1965 GEORG KOPP 3,201,913

ALSO KNOWN As JORG KOPP APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND SEALING FILLED PACKAGING HOSE OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 20, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 24, 1965 GEORG KOPP ALSO KNOWN AS JORG KOPP APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND SEALING FILLED PACKAGING HOSE on THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1962 Aug. 24, 1965 GEORG KOPP 3,201,913

ALSO KNOWN As JORG KOPP APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND SEALING FILLED PACKAGING HOSE OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 20, 1962 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,201,913 APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND SEALING FILLED PACKAGING HOSE OR THE LIKE Georg Kopp, also known as Jiirg Kopp, Schatfhausen,

Switzerland, assignor to Schweizerische Industrie- Gesellschaft, Neuhausen (Rheinfall), Switzerland Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 218,038 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 30, 1961, 10,102 61 7 Claims. (Cl. 53-182) The present invention relates to improved apparatus for folding and sealing filled packaging hose or tubing formed of sealable or weldable material by means of heated, parallel arranged and movable heating jaws.

Up to the present such packaginghose, after filling thereof, was pressed together by means of two heating jaws arranged transverse with respect to the axis of the hose, fused and then cut-through along the weld seam. In this manner there indeed resulted sealed packaging bags or containers which, however, did not exhibit a smooth front surface and, for this reason, were unable to stand in erect position. It has already been attempted to fold or bend the wall of the hose prior to pressing together the heating jaws by means of two oppositely arranged folding rods. Since these folding rods, however, had to be removed from contact with the hose prior to pressing together of the heating jaws, the folded hose portions upon pressing together of the heating jaws again returned into their original position, so that the desired result was either not obtained at all, or only to a limited extent.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the type described in which these disadvantages do not occur.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide improved means for folding a hose, tubing or the like prior to heat sealing thereof, whereby the folded hose portion remains in desired folded condition.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means for folding and fusing of packaging hose or the like in an efiicient and reliable manner.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide improved means for tucking in the ends of packing hose and maintaining such ends in desired folded condition until completion of a heat-sealing operation.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction for folding and closing packaging hose, wherein means are provided for folding at least one end of the hose, and wherein these means are adapted to remain in contact with the hose throughout the welding or fusing operation, to thereby insure that such folded ends remain in the desired folded position.

Thus, in a preferred manifestation of the present invention there is provided an apparatus wherein at each heating jaw or die, or at a member connected to each such jaw, there are connected two folding rods or levers, each having one respective end pivotably mounted to the associated heating jaw, whereas the other ends of the folding levers are each pivotably connected with the ends of the oppositely arranged folding lever of the other heating jaw, and in such a manner that these confronting ends mutually approach one another upon bringing together of the heating jaws, for the purpose of folding and maintaining in folded condition the wall of the packaging hose or tube.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific example, while indicating a preferred embodi "Ice ment of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the apparatus for folding and closing packaging hose designed according to the present invention and depicted in open position;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a packaging hose with inserted folding rods during heat-sealing or welding of the transverse seam, with the heating jaws not being shown;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the hose shown in FIG- URE 2, viewed in the direction of the arrow III thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 and shown in closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention taken along lines V-V of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the heating jaws and the folding levers.

Referring now to the drawings, and as can best be seen by inspecting FIGURES 1 and 4, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with two support carriages or slides 1a, 1b which are displaceably mounted upon two parallel rails 2. In the illustrated embodiment, there is secured to each carriage 1a, 1b a connecting plate or angle bracket 3 (FIGURE 5) and a heating jaw or die 40 and 4b, respectively. The heating jaws 4a, 4b are heated in a manner known to the art, for example they are electrically heated. To both angle brackets 3 there are rotatably or pivotably connected the respective ends 5a of so-called folding levers or rods 5, by means of suitable fastening members such as the rivets 6. The free end 5b of each folding rod 5 is pivotably connected with the free end of the folding rod connected to the oppositely arranged heating jaw by means of a rivet 7. The heating jaws 4a, 4b exhibit recesses 8a, 8b. In one of these recesses, such as recess 8b there is arranged a cutting instrument such as a knife 9, adapted to be displaced by suitable actuating means (not shown) from the recess 8b into the recess 8a when the heating jaws 4a, 4b assume the position shown in FIGURE 4, more specifically, in the heat-sealing or welding position of said heating jaws.

The mode of operation of the apparatus hereinabove described is as follows: In the position shown in FIGURE 1, in which the heating jaws 4a, 4b together with their carriages 1a, 1b are spaced furthest from one another, the packaging tube or hose 1%) shown in phantom, which either is completely formed of a thermoplastic material, e.g., polyethylene, or provided with a coating of such material, is filled by a suitable dosing or filling device not shown. Thereafter, the folding and closing operation begins, in that the two carriages 1a, 1b with the heating jaws 4a, 4b are moved towards one another. As a result, the confronting ends 5b of the folding rods 5 approach one another in a scissor-like manner, that is to say, they move against the outer wall of the packaging hose 10 and triangularly bend or fold the wall thereof, as can best be ,seen by referring to FIGURES 2 and 3.

When the heating dies 4a, 4b are completely pressed against one another, then the transverse seam is heatsealed or welded, whereby the packaging tube 10 is tightly sealed. Thereafter, and with the heating dies 4a, 412 still pressed together, the cutting instrument or knife 9 is moved out of the recess 8b and, consequently, the hose 10 is severed or cut-through. The carriages 1a, 1b are then again moved into their starting position shown in FIGURE 1, and a new packaging hose 10 is placed between the heating dies 4a, 4b, whereupon the aforedescribed operation is repeated.

Depending upon the quality of the bag or container material, it can-be advantageous to also arrange above i the heating dies, symmetric to the plane of the cutting knife, identical folding rods 5 The apparatusis especially advantageous in those instances in which 'a packing hose is formed from an endless band which is then, in: known manner, fused and filled at the bottom, whereupon the filled hose is advanced thelength of the bag.

The described apparatus can then serve to seal the upper hag opening.

Having thus described the desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is: 1. Apparatus for folding and closingfilled packaging hose formed of heat-scalable material, comprising a pair,

of oppositely arranged and movable heating-jaws adapted to be heated and between which said packaging hoseis present invention .what is a 4 each'infolding lever to its associated heating jaw, and means pivotably connecting together the'respective confronting ends of oppositely arranged infolding levers of each heating jaw, in such a manner that said confronting pivotably connected ends of said infolding levers approach one another upon movement vof said heating jaws toward one another for infolding the side wall at diametrically opposed points,'said hose being maintained in folded condition when located between said heating jaws until completion of a heat-sealing operation.

5. Apparatus for folding and closing filled packaging hose comprising a pair of oppositelyarranged and movable jaw members between which saidv packaging hose is capable" of being located when said: heating jaws are a spaced from one another, apair of infolding levers pivotably mounted adjacent to and connected with a 're: spective end in operable relation to each heating jaw, there being a pair of infolding levers on each side'of the location of said hose with the respective confronting ends of oppositely arranged infolding levers ofeach heat adapted to be-positioned when said jaw members are spaced from*one another, means for moving said jaw members toward andaway from one another, a separate 'pair' of infolding levers for each jaw member, means operatively connecting for pivotable movement a-respective end of each pair of infolding levers to each jaw member, means pivotably connecting confronting ends of oppositely arranged infolding: levers of each jaw member to one another, in such a'mannerthat said coning jaw being pivotably hinged to one another, in such a manner that said confronting pivotably hinged ends of said infolding levers approach one another upon movement of said heating jaws toward one another inorder to infold the side wall of said, hose at opposite points and maintain said packaging hose in position while said heating jaws engage and seal said package.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including at least a pair of parallel rails, and carriage means supported by said parallel rails and operativelyconnected with said.

heating jaws for permitting movement thereof toward and away from one another;

3. Apparatus according to .claim 1 cutting" instrument mounted in said recess adapted for movement out of said recess. 7

4% Apparatus for folding and closing filled' packaging hose formed of heat-'s'ealable mat'erial, comprising a pair of oppositely arranged and movable heating jaws adapted wherein at least one of said heating jawsis provided with a recess, and a' to be heated and between which said' packaging hose is 7 adapted to be'located when said heating jaws are spaced from one another, means operative with said heating jaws for permitting movement toward and away from. one another, a pair of infolding levers connecting said he'at- 1 ing jaws and arranged on opposite sides of the location of said hose, means pivotably mounting a respective end of I associated jaw member.

340,758 '10/59 Switzerland.

. ing operation.

6. Apparatus according to'claim 5; wherein said means 'operatively connecting a, respective end ,of each pair of infolding levers to each jaw member includes a separate angle bracket supported .by. each jaw member and fasteningmeans for pivotably connecting said respective folding lever ends to a respectiveangle bracket.

I 7, Apparatus according toclaim 5;. wherein said operatively connecting means. includes fastening means for securing each pair of infolding levers directly to each References Cited by the Examiner I FOREIGN PATENTS" 3 /57 Germany. I

FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiners TRAVISS. MCGEHEE, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FOLDING AND CLOSING FILLED PACKAGING HOSE FORMED OF HEAT-SEALABLE MATERIAL, COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY ARRANGED AND MOVABLED HEATING JAWS ADAPTED TO BE HEATED AND BETWEEN WHICH SAID PACKAGING HOSE IS CAPABLE OF BEING LOCATED WHEN SAID HEATING JAWS ARE SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER, A PAIR OF INFOLDING LEVERS PIVOTABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT TO AND CONNECT WITH A RESPECTIVE END IN OPERABLE RELATION TO EACH HEATING JAW, THERE BEING A PAIR OF INFOLDING LEVERS ON EACH SIDE OF THE LOCATION OF SAID HOSE WITH THE RESPECTIVE CONFRONTING ENDS OF OPPOSITELY ARRANGED INFOLDING LEVERS OF EACH HEATING JAW BEING PIVOTABLY HINGED TO ONE ANOTHER, IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID CONFRONTING PIVOTABLY HINGED ENDS OF SAID INFOLDING LEVERS APPROACH ONE ANOTHER UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID HEATING JAWS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO INFOLD THE SIDE WALL OF SAID HOSE AT OPPOSITE POINTS AND MAINTAIN SAID PACKAGING HOSE IN POSITION WHILE SAID HEATING JAWS ENGAGE AND SEAL SAID PACKAGE. 